The Godwulf Manuscript

Spenser earned his degree in the school of hard knocks, so he is ready when a Boston university hires him to recover a rare, stolen manuscript. He is hardly surprised that his only clue is a radical student with four bullets in his chest. The cops are ready to throw the book at the pretty blond coed whose prints are all over the murder weapon but Spenser knows there are no easy answers. He tackles some very heavy homework and knows that if he doesn't finish his assignment soon, he could end up dead.

Good start to a great series!

I've gone years without attempting the Spenser series. I decided to take up the task of trying to read all the books in the series in order. This book..Show More » is a great start. Without spoiling anything, you get a sense of Spenser's humor while getting a great mini mystery. Yes the book is unabridged and great for a quick trip but the reader is wear it counts. At first his narration comes off as dull but you start to enjoy his interpretation of the character. The story is nothing revolutionary but the plus side is that you can tell Parker respects the likes of Chandler, Hammett etc...which adds to the feel of the novel.

Overall the book is a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Not the best, not the worst. If you're a completest like me then read it, if not still read it because it's the introduction of Spenser who is one of the greats in detective fiction.

God Save the Child: A Spenser Novel

Appie Knoll is the kind of suburb where kids grow up right. But something is wrong. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Bartlett disappears. Everyone thinks he's run away -- until the comic strip ransom note arrives. It doesn't take Spenser long to get the picture -- an affluent family seething with rage, a desperate boy making strange friends...friends like Vic Harroway, body builder. Mr. Muscle is Spenser's only lead and he isn't talking...except with his fists

Early Parker, like Early Autumn. Very engaging.

Parker was so prolific for so long that it is sometimes hard to tell one book from another. I may have confused my review of Early Autumn with this on..Show More »e. If so, forgive me. At 63. whatever, the memory begins to fade...perhaps some of you are familiar with this phenomenon.In any case, this is the book in which Spenser and Susan Silverman meet, and it presages a long, passionate affair in which the two never live together, but maintain their love and commitment to each other. The plot involves a kidnapping of a fifteen-year-old boy for $50,000, money his parents have to borrow. The parents have very serious problems. Spenser is drawn into a spider's web of iniquity and evil-doing, the likes of which the title of the book would never even hint at. Everyone is corrupt, and Spenser is like a dog with a bone: he is so determined that he never lets go. Susan helps him as a consultant, but we soon realize that the work she does is parallel: her clinical work involves her solving the nexus of her patients' lives, just as Spenser's work draws him into the dark side of their lives.Spenser is so funny that you often can't stop giggling long enough to take him seriously.This book is also pre-Hawk. Spenser is without his wing-man, and has to ride to the rescue with only his resources. Fortunately, these are considerable. The team of Spenser and Susan is a winner, and will survive decades of very satisfying work. Enjoy this. Few writers can approach Parker in talent, humor, plot or character development.

Mortal Stakes

Everybody loves a winner, and the Rabbs are major league. Marty is the Red Sox star pitcher, Linda the loving wife. She loves everyone except the blackmailer out to wreck her life. Is Marty throwing fast balls or throwing games? It doesn't take long for Spenser to link Marty's performance with Linda's past...or to find himself trapped between a crazed racketeer and an enforcer toting an M-16. America's favorite pastime has suddenly become a very dangerous sport, and one wrong move means strike three.

What a Man's Gotta Do

The Spenser books, particularly the early ones, are good, fast reads and very short by today's standards. Although technically book #3, "Mortal Stakes..Show More »" (1975) is a good starting place for this classic series.

On the surface it's a simple story: the Boston Red Sox' manager suspects that their superstar may be throwing games as well as pitches (all Red Sox personnel in the book are entirely fictional). The manager hires PI Spenser to investigate the rumor. The trademark Parker descriptions of meals (heavy on the cholesterol), drinks (Labatt's Pale Ale, anyone?), clothes (lots of polyester), and local flavor (Boston's ambiance is captured nicely) are all there, as is Spenser's trademark repartee (which unfortunately doesn't always translate well to audio, especially since Michael Prichard is an OK but not spectacular reader).

Underneath a fast-moving plot involving blackmail and gambling, this novel builds the foundation for the Code of Spenser as the tough PI faces up to the physical, emotional, and spiritual conflicts inherent when "work is play for mortal stakes." At this point in the series he has not yet partnered with Hawk, the sociopath-with-integrity who plays such a large role in later books. Hit men like Vinnie and Chollo have not yet become Spenser's buddies and back-up. Cops Belson and Quirk, his stalwart links to law enforcement, are present, and the bonds of commitment between Spenser and his future soulmate Susan Silverman glimmer but are not yet forged.

Over 35 years and 30 novels (there are more than 30, but for me the books lose their lustre and originality somewhere after "Potshot," which was #28 or so), Robert B. Parker created an iconic character that in many ways (and despite many superficial differences) is the logical antecedent of Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Both "heroes" operate under individualistic codes of honor that in their world justify breaking rules and laws in the interests of eliminating evil, protecting the innocent, and righting wrongs. As the lines from Robert Frost that are the epigraph in "Mortal Stakes" sum it up, their deeds are done "for Heaven and the future's sakes." Spenser thinks about it a lot more than Reacher does, but they both wind up serving as judge, jury, and executioner more often than not.

Promised Land

Spenser is good at finding things. But this time he has a client out on Cape Cod who is in over his head. Harvey Shepard has lost his pretty wife - and a very pretty quarter million bucks in real estate. Now a loan shark is putting on the bite.

Spencer is my hero!

This book was good, but not the best of the series. This is fairly early in the series (book number 4) and the Susan/Spencer relationship is j..Show More »ust developing to "I love you". There is an interesting foreshadowing of Pearl the Wonder Dog (but Pearl has not yet come into the series story line). Susan is still a guidance counselor at a school. Susan meets Hawk for the first time. Hawk and Spencer have not yet developed the totally loyal and easy friendship that I enjoy so much in the later books of the series, but it is interesting to hear them get started. The client (a man) in this book is not drawn as someone that I can get attached to - neither is his wife. I really did not care about either of them (or their children) even though they were the central point to the story. However, I am so committed to Spencer, Hawk and Susan that it is enough for me for their characters to be in the story line. The plot is interesting and reader is very good. If you love the Spencer series as I do, you will not be disappointed in Promised Land.

The Judas Goat: A Spenser Novel

Spenser has gone to London -- and not to see the Queen. He's gone to track down a bunch of bombers who've blown away his client's wife and kids. His job is to catch them. Or kill them. His client isn't choosy. But there are nine killers to one Spenser -- long odds. Hawk helps balance the equation. The rest depends on a wild plan. Spenser will get one of the terrorists to play Judas Goat -- to lead him to others.

Spenser is not Sam Spade.

I have read or listened to all of the Spenser books and this book, although very dated in its language, has always been one of my favorites of the ear..Show More »ly mysteries. But the books are intended to be light and breezy - an easy read without too much seriousness. Joe Montagne, who narrates the later books, has the exactly right approach to the characters where the light-hearted banter between Spenser, Hawk, Vinnie and others sets the tone.

But Michael Prichard seems to think that Spenser is Sam Spade and narrates the book accordingly. There is almost no humor and he has completely lost the tone of the book. That is too bad since I would like to have bought more of the early Spenser books. Now I am stuck with The Judas Goat and, my personal favorite, A Catskill Eagle, and neither touches the upbeat and sprightly tone of the books themselves. I would willingly buy them again if Joe Montagne were to narrate them.

Looking for Rachel Wallace: A Spenser Novel

When Spenser accepts a job as a "bodyguard" for a beautiful young woman, he gets in way over his head.

Spenser is a pleasure

Rachel Wallace is a lesbian feminist who writes books and names names, and gets vilified for speaking her mind. Her publisher hires Spenser to be her ..Show More »bodyguard, as she has received death threats for her views. She is personally reluctant to hire such a macho guy, but she needs him. I don't want to say too much about the plot, but I will say a little. I don't know how long ago this book was published, but Parker speaks to issues that are so current and so controversial that they could be in the news now. Rachel is kidnapped by some loony "Ritz crackers," in Spenser's words, but these people are very far off at the extreme right wing of this country, deeply bigoted and intolerant to their bones. The resistance to same sex marriage in the current news is essentially predicted by Parker here. The relationship between Spenser and Susan is once again so tender that you feel deeply for both of them. Spenser may be a tough guy on the outside and a cream puff inside, but the cream puff is available to us in a very guarded and controlled way. Rachel fires Spenser because he is too violent in one scene, a corporate setting in which he manhandles a couple of corporate goofballs. Spenser admits that "she might be right" about this. He uses his connections in the Boston Police Department, Belson and Quirk, to look for her in ways that the police cannot. He is endangered by the loonies and their lackies, but he finds a way out, despite being severely beaten in one scene. Parker was so prolific in his life (he died in 2010) that you should read most of his stuff, and stay away from the pretenders. I recommend him without reservation. I've read over 800 audiobooks, and Parker continues to entertain me, make me laugh, and make me think. What more could I want?

Early Autumn

A bitter divorce is only the beginning. First the father hires thugs to kidnap his son. Then the mother hires Spenser to get the boy back. But as soon as Spenser senses the lay of the land, he decides to do some kidnapping of his own.

Probably the best Spenser book

Spenser is hired by Patty Giacomin to find and retrieve her son, Paul, who has been abducted by her ex-husband. Spenser soon realizes that 15-year-ol..Show More »d Paul is being used as a weapon in a fierce and unrelenting battle between the Giacomins, neither of whom actually care much about him. Spenser decides to take care of the boy himself, and to attempt to teach him to become autonomous. This creates a certain amount of tension between Spenser and Susan, and a certain amount of danger for Spenser, who discovers that Mel Giacomin has mob connections.

Most of book contains two story lines: Spenser's efforts to find a way to get Paul out of the battle between his parents, and his teaching of Paul to become an independent person at a very young age.

In my opinion, the best part of the story is the work of Spenser to teach young Paul how to deal with the disasters of his family life and prevent them from consuming him.

If you like Spenser, you should find this book very enjoyable; swiftly paced, well-written, and full of telling and enjoyable details.

A Savage Place: A Spenser Novel

TV reporter Candy Sloan has eyes the color of cornflowers and legs that stretch all the way to heaven. She also has somebody threatening to rearrange her lovely face if she keeps on snooping into charges of Hollywood racketeering. Spenser's job is to keep Candy healthy until she breaks the biggest story of her career.

A Different Kind of Spencer

This is one of the more complicated Spenser novels. Spenser cheats on Susan; develops feelings for another woman. The climatic scene was the one of th..Show More »e most complicated in the series. The setting is Los Angeles instead of Boston. There's no Hawk, Quirk, or Belsen. Though there is the requisite amount of humor this is one of the more serious Spenser novels. An excellent short book.

Ceremony: A Spenser Novel

Spenser's out to make war, not love, as he goes after Boston's entire X-rated industry. Pretty teenager April Kyle has disappeared into the city's darkest underworld, and to rescue her, Spencer pits muscle and wit against bullets and bullies.

2 ½ stars.

My mind wandered a lot, but it might have been other things going on in my life - not sure.

If you’re new to the series and just want to read..Show More » some, skip this one. It’s not a lot of muscle and wit. It’s mostly Spenser trying to find a teenage girl who runs away from home and does not want to be rescued.

The Widening Gyre: A Spenser Novel

The adoring wife of a senatorial candidate has a smile as sweet as candy and dots her "i's" with little hearts. A blond beauty, she is the perfect mate for an ambitious politician, but she has a little problem with sex and drugs--a problem someone has managed to put on videotape. The big boys figure a little blackmail will put her husband out of the race. Until Spenser hops on the candidate's bandwagon.

good

This was a good Spencer book, but not one of the best, in my opinion. I could not get too attached to the politician and his wife. The politician is ..Show More »supposed to be madly in love with her (gallant and sacrificial love), but from what we know about her and her personality, it is not too believable that he could be so madly in love with her. For some reason I found this book a little flat so I could not give it a "5". It may be that I like Joe Montegna's reading skills better than Michael Prichard's. Prichard is good, but Montegna is better.

Valediction: A Spenser Novel

The most dangerous man to cross is one who isn't afraid to die. But the most deadly is one who doesn't want to live. And Spenser has just lost the woman who made life his number-one priority. So when a religious sect kidnaps a pretty young dancer, no death threat can make Spenser cut and run. Now a hit man's bullet is wearing Spenser's name. But Boston's big boys don't know Spenser's ready and willing to meet death more than halfway.

A Single Dream Exacts a Terrible Price

The headline is something of a paraphrase from The Great Gatsby.Susan Silverman is involved with another man and rather than coming back to Boston she..Show More »'s moving to San Francisco. So Spenser dives into a depression, he dates, and he courts death by taking on a heroin ring to rescue a girl and give her an opportunity to reunite with her boyfriend. Still Spenser keeps the faith. In himself, in Susan, in Hawk. A darker work than the usual Spenser novel it works as a change of pace from the normal Parker take on his alter ego.

A Catskill Eagle

Spenser's girlfriend Susan goes away with another man, Jerry Costigan, the son of a very rich and dangerous criminal. Spenser and his friend, Hawk, go to find Susan. Soon they are in the world of the CIA, guns and murder.

Outlandish Events in the Name of Love

Susan Silverman who ran away to San Francisco calls Spenser in need of rescue. Like a Saint Bernard he hurries to her rescue; Hawk comes along it seem..Show More »s that he too inexplicably would do anything for Susan Silverman. They go along to various places together killing people and garnering charges. They rescue Susan; who having grown tired of her fling with Jerry Costigan is prepared to return to Boston and to Spenser. He seems to be quite willing to accept her; no questions asked. Because according to Parker there is no other woman in the world likes the shoe shopping clothes horse, girl of Spenser's dreams. Hawk of course loves her too; enough to risk his life and freedom for her. Once he has Susan back there is still the little matter of the law breaking spree that Spenser and Hawk have gone on. The U S government decides that it can all go away if they will just kill Costigan's father; an arms supplier connected with the defense industry because they are the scourge of the U S government.. Naturally Spenser and Hawk decide that murder is the way to go. After all it's all worth it if Susan has returned to Spenser. For whatever reason it's worth to him as well. Spenser is back with Susan; all is well with the world.

Taming a Sea-Horse: A Spenser Novel

Robert B. Parker takes listeners into the murky big-city underground. Spenser undertakes an intense search for a beautiful, missing prostitute, and finds himself traveling amidst the sleaze of Times Square, where sex is a commodity, and young girls are the currency.

Parker and Prichard are always fun.

This series, starring Spenser, his girlfriend the beautiful and brilliant Susan Silverman, Ph.D., and the strong but silent man of muscle Hawk, is per..Show More »haps the most sustained piece of literature we have known in decades. Parker himself would probably gag at the word "literature," as his desire is to entertain us on every page, and he does this masterfully. This particular story concerns Spenser's continuing fatherly concern over the teenage prostitute April. Although truly a tough guy, Spenser is a marshmallow softie when it comes to girls like April. He voluntarily goes to New York to track her down, and in essence to save her from the demeaning job of being a prostitute. He keeps running in to the fact that she chooses this work. He had placed her with the high-class call girl operation of Ms. Patricia Utley in New York, with the high-browed intention that April become a high-class call girl, the one whom we imagine wears jewels and furs and charges $500 for her services, with clients who are polite, well-dressed and well-mannered. April, however, falls downhill into the pimp operation of a crude black man who dresses like a pimp, runs a string of "girls," pretends to be a student at Juilliard, and who carries a very sharp knife. His name is Robert. Spenser repeatedly calls him Bob. There is some serious fighting between them. Spenser meets April at a coffee shop, and finds that Robert is sitting at the bar. watching the conversation very carefully. Spenser eventually catches on to the fact that April does not want to be rescued by the armored hero on the white horse. He reluctantly admits that she is trapped in "the life," and it appears that she wouldn't leave it for any reason. Spenser's dreams of taking her back to Boston and making an "honest woman" out of her are just that: dreams. He is bitterly disappointed.Michael Prichard does his usual excellent job of narration, and Parker's wit is just as sharp as ever. It is astounding to note that Parker wrote FORTY of these books in his incredible career, and I have yet to read one that was not funny and truly enjoyable reading. Have fun your own self.

Pale Kings and Princes: A Spenser Novel

Caught in a snowstorm of drugs, passion, and hate, Spenser investigates a cocaine-related murder.

I love Robert Parker's Spencer series.

Pale Kings and Princes, the 14th in the series, is a traditional Spencer" format (Hawk and Susan are present). The residents in the small..Show More » town Spencer visits are not very likeable people -the bad guys are really BAD. Drugs are rampant. Spencer has a tough time finding anything to eat that pleases him. People try to kill him and Spencer has to take some pretty drastic measures (including highjacking)- all very entertaining. I like the state tooper Spencer meets and hope he appears in future books.

The very best of all Spencer readers, in my opinion, is David Dukes, but it appears he only read Spencer books for cassette tapes. However Joe Montegna and Michael Prichard are very good. I highly recommend Prichard's reading of Pale Kings and Princes.

Spencer fans will love this book. If you are unfamiliar with Spencer, I suggest that you dive in. I would not recommend that you start with the first audible book (Godwulf Manuscript), if Burt Reynolds is the reader because he is terible! Read that one yourself. I grew to love Spencer when I started with later books where Spencer's personality, and also the personalities of Susan, Hawk and Pearl, are fully developed. Then I backtracked to learn how they developed. Of the later books, Early Autumn is my favorite (even though Susan is not yet fully developed). Some other good later novels are Bad Business, Cold Service, Thin Air, and Paper Doll. A negative of starting with later books is that there are many repeat characters. If you start with the first book, you get introduced to them as they are "born".

Some listeners are turned off by the "he saids" which follow many sentences - but you get used to it - that is just the Robert Parker style. I don't even notice it.

Crimson Joy: A Spenser Novel

A serial killer is on the loose in Beantown and the cops can't catch him. But when the killer leaves his red rose calling card for Spenser's own Susan Silverman, he gets all the attention that Spenser and Hawk can give. Spenser plays against time while he tracks the Red Rose killer from Boston's Combat Zone to the suburbs. His trap is both daring and brave, and gives the story a satisfying climax.

Disappointed

I was disappointed in Prichard's uninspired reading of what I've always thought was one of the better Spenser novels. I think I'd avoid his narrations..Show More » in future.

Playmates: A Spenser Novel

Spenser smells corruption in a college town. Taft University's hottest basketball star is shaving points for quick cash. All manner of sleaze -- from corrupt academics to hoods with graduate degrees -- have their fingers in the pot. Spenser's search takes him from lecture halls to blue collar bars and finally into a bloody confrontation with almost certain death. But Spenser saves an arrogant young athlete -- even though it nearly kills him to do it.

Spenser again.

The story was typical Spenser. The recording volume was low and uneven, and sounded like it was copied from tape (as it probably was).

Stardust: A Spenser Novel

When a Hollywood-based TV series schedules filming in Boston, Spenser smells trouble. When he signs up to protect the show's star, Jill Joyce, he knows it's on its way. First, there's Jill herself. She's spoiled, arrogant, drugged out -- made worse by fear. Someone is out to get her -- does she imagine it, or is it real?

Stardust, another winner by Parker

I'm biased in favor of Parker's Spenser novels, I like all that I've listened to. There's always snappy dialogue and fast moving plot. This novel was ..Show More »great. I highly recommend it.

Pastime

Ten years ago, Paul Giacomin's corrupt father and loose mother used the boys as a pawn in their violent race: Only Spenser could call them off and straighten out the misled teen - almost getting killed in the process. Paul is now 24 and reconciled to his mother's wanton ways. But when Patty Giacomin vanishes, Paul begs Spenser to help him rescue her from the clutches of her boyfriend, a shady character he's sure coerced his mother into running.

Abysmal

David Dukes ruined a book in one of my favorite series' with his monotone narration and his propensity to mispronounce every word more complicated tha..Show More »n Hawk. Paul Giacomin was a huge disappointment in this book as well. Parker went way too far to create the juxtaposition in the father son relationships between Spenser and Paul and the Broz's Joe and Gerry. Paul develops a sudden anxiety about his mother that had been absent in previous books including his introduction in Early Autumn. He also reverts to being almost as diffident and whiny as the fifteen year old train wreck he was then. Still this one was a pretty decent book and with Joe Mantegna as the narrator it would have been an enjoyable listening experience; unfortunately it's quite likely that this reader could screw up the best or simplest literary work.

Double Deuce: A Spenser Novel

Spenser is forced by loyalty into an alien world where violence is a way of lie and outsiders enter at a lethal risk. When Spenser's cohort Hawk is hired by the tenants of a gang-plagued Boston housing project known as "Double Deuce," he enlists his friend's aid. A friend's girl and her infant daughter have been gunned down. Though the act at first appears to be an accidental drive-by shooting, it soon becomes clear that it was premeditated murder.

Good Story, Lousy reader

It was difficult to continue listening to this story because of the reader. His idea of voices for the black characters was embarassing.

Paper Doll: A Spenser Novel

Hired by Loudon Tripp, an aggrieved Boston aristocrat who believes his late wife Olivia's brutal street slaying to be something other than random violence, Spencer immediately senses that his client's picture-perfect portrayal of his family life is false. For starters, the victim's reputation is too saintly, her house is as lived-in as a stage set, and her troubled children don't appear to be the product of a happy home.

Dark & Deep Story

This story was great because it just kept taking turns, and the plot kept getting thicker and thicker. It is a very dark story with multiple tragic si..Show More »tuations. Definitely kept me listening to see what would happen. I agree with many readers who have commented that this narrator isn't the best, but I have to say, he really did shine here. All of the characters on the Boston police force really came alive in a new way. The scene where Martin Quirk breaks bad is fantastic.

Walking Shadow: A Spenser Novel

Spenser is investigating the Port City Theater Company, where the director claims he's being stalked. When an actor is shot dead during a performance, all clues lead to the local Chinese Mafia, whose roots run deep in this drab waterfront city. With Hawk and ex mobster Vinnie assisting, Spenser eventually triumphs in one of his most compelling adventures.

IF YOU LIKE SPENSER, DON'T BOTHER!

I mistakenly did not listen to the sample narration before downloading, and I was bitterly disappointed. I love Robert B. Parker, and Spenser novels...Show More » This narrator is lispy and effeminate, and if you know Spenser and Hawk, it just doesn't work. It's a joke. If you love Spenser novels, you will be very upset. If this is your first, you will be cheated. Joe Mantegna is a good reader of Spenser novels-he has that tough guy voice. Choose one of those.

Thin Air: A Spenser Novel

When the bride of a Boston police detective vanishes, he hires Spenser to find her. His path leads from a New England college campus to glamorous L.A. sports clubs. When the trail turns to a world of prostitution, drug abuse, and self-destruction, Spenser must enter ghetto tenements to continue his search. Ultimately, Spenser must hire a Chicago hitman to help him free the girl from a sociopathic ex lover.

Good Book Ruined By an Awful Narrator

I read this book about twenty years ago and found it well written and quite entertaining. I thought I had listened to this book before; I thought that..Show More » the reader had been Joe Mantegna. I'm not sure if I was mistaken about listening to this one previously, or if there has been more than one production. I'm damn sure if I did listen to this one previously I wouldn't have purchased it. The narrator is awful for the voice of Spenser and much worse for everyone else; avoid this one like a social disease.

Chance: A Spenser Novel

Big-time Boston hoodlum Julius Ventura wants to find his only daughter's missing husband - at least that's how he puts it to Spenser and Hawk, even though its pretty clear that Julius isn't telling the whole truth. Or maybe not any part of the truth. Something about the case appeals to Spenser's passion for justice, and he launches an odyssey that takes the tough-but-tender duo with their penchant for literary allusions into the netherworld of organized crime.

story good - reader bad

This is a good story with a lot of action and mystery. Hawk and Susan are in the story, and that is alway a plus for me; however, the presentation is..Show More » not at all good. Burt Reynolds does NOT do a good Spencer voice and the accents he uses for his other characters are just over the top. He also does NOT to a good Hawk. I really had a hard time listening to this audiobook - it was a chore to listen all the way through. The only reason it got a "2" instead of a "1" from me is because Robert Parker did his usual good writing job. Too bad Burt Reynolds ruined it.

Small Vices: A Spenser Novel

Ellis Alves is no angel. But his lawyer says he was framed for the murder of college student Melissa Henderson...and asks Spenser for help.

Reynolds and the Book Were Excellent

Once again, Parker came through with a winner -- a fast-moving, often humorous voyage with a well-hidden ending, which, by the way, was a TV movie wit..Show More »h Joe Montegna. There was a complaint about Burt Reynold's dropping off his endings. That was OK and perfectly in keeping with the character -- and did you notice there were no complaints about Spencer's sometimes exasperating I said's, he said's, she said's -- which are what he dropped off the most.

Sudden Mischief: A Spenser Novel

Brad Sterling - former Harvard football player, ne¿er-do-well, and Susan Silverman's long out-of touch ex-husband, is by all appearances a successful businessman. But when, in the course of running a vast fundraiser called Galapalooza, he is charged with sexual harassment, he turns to Susan for help.

THIS READER CANNOT DO PARKER's RHYTHM

This reader CANNOT do Parker. Those of us who love the English language, and who love rhythm that authors create, look forward to someone reading who..Show More » understands that musical magic. This guy is TERRIBLE. Everywhere there's a period (which is very frequent with Parker!) he reads as a comma or a question mark. It's EXCRUTIATING. AWFUL. PLEASE do not let this guy read Parker again, and I really want my money back.

Hush Money: Spenser Series, Book 26

When Robin Nevins, the son of Hawk's boyhood mentor, is denied at an exclusive university, Hawk asks Spenser to investigate. It seems the denial is tied to the suicide of a young gay activist, and as Spenser digs deeper, he is nearly drowned in a multicultural swamp of politics: black, gay, academic, and feminist. At the same time, Spenser's inamorata, Susan, asks him to come to the aid of an old college friend, K.C. Roth, the victim of a stalker. Spenser solves the problem a bit too effectively when K.C. turns the tables and begins to stalk him.

Parker + Spencer + Reynolds = magic I

I wish Burt Reynolds narrated more Spenser novels. Burt brings a star power to a great author - enjoy

Hugger Mugger

Somebody is shooting horses at Walter Clive's Three Fillies Stables, and Clive has hired Spenser to find out who before they claim the life of champion two-year-old Hugger Mugger. Amid unsightly family secrets, crooked security guards, an apathetic sheriff's deputy, and a jockey the size of a ham sandwich, Spenser's case takes a deadly turn when the attacker claims a human victim - and Spenser could be next.

Really good listen

I'd previously listened to Robert Parker's "Potshot" and enjoyed it. This book has the same mix of old style private eye, tough guy, glamorous and in..Show More »telligent girlfriend, sexual references etc and it all works - and works well. The narration is first class and fits the character of the book; the plot gets you in and is well developed. I really enjoyed this listen and recommend it to others who want a light and stimulating thriller / detective story.

Potshot

Boston P.I. Spenser is back! He's traveled west to investigate a murder in Potshot, Arizona, a former mining town reborn as a hangout for Los Angeles millionaires. A motley band of thieves, lead by The Preacher, is wreaking havoc, and Spenser must find a way to beat the gang at their own dangerous game.

A 'POTSHOT' at Potshot

The title of this book makes almost too good of a target. OK -- To make it short and sweet -- it's got a good beat, but it's hard to dance to (my apol..Show More »ogies to those of you too young to have watched American Bandstand). Parker's Spenser series of books have always been written sparingly, and this is no exception (As an example, Potshot has more than 50 chapters -- Parker outdoes Papa H in hes conciseness). One of the reasons that many of the previous Spenser books have worked is that Parker has kept the plot somewhat simple and, more importantly, does not include the cast of 'Ben Hur.' In this departure, there are 7,8,9, ??? characters with speaking parts in this book. Had Potshot been longer, Parker might have gotten around to fleshing the thing out. However, he stayed the course, and the result is a bunch of characters with only a patina of character development.
However, after the nit picking above, I still enjoyed the book. Spenser, Susan, and Hawk are at their best and if you have been a long time reader, you can easily forgive Parker's attempt to 'stretch' as illustrated in Potshot.
Lastly: This is an unabridged book and the reader is good enough to not get in the way.

Potshot

Boston P.I. Spenser returns - heading west to the rich man's haven of Potshot, Arizona, a former mining town recently reborn as a paradise for Los Angeles millionaires looking for a place to escape the pressures of their high-flying lifestyles. When a band of modern-day mountain men, led by a charismatic individual known as The Preacher, takes over the town, even the local police are powerless to defend the residents in the face of the clever, dangerous gang.

Parker's Best!

In my opinion this is the best Robert Parker book with his character the private eye Spenser. Great storyline and of course with Hawk by his side, the..Show More » dialogue abounds with wit and satire.

Widow's Walk

Boston's premier P.I. investigates the murder of a prominent local banker with family ties to the Mayflower - and perhaps the mob. It's hard not to imagine the victim's young bride as the one with her finger on the trigger. Even her lawyer thinks she's guilty. But Mary Smith is entitled to the best defense she can afford - and thanks to her late husband's millions, she can afford plenty - so Spenser hires on to investigate.

Great narrative, slow story

I found Joe Mantegna's narrative flawless on this book. His voice was easy to listen to and offered a great narrative to Spencer. I started with Spe..Show More »ncer back when the TV show starring Robert Urich aired. Joe's voice reminds me a little bit of Urich's great narratives on the show.

The book's story is a bit slow and I found numerous characters to be completely annoying. Mary Smith is by far the most annoying with her completely ridiculous stupidity (no one is that stupid). The side-story with Spencer's girlfriend's patient, who dies, adds nothing to the story except a distraction.

However, the book's story would be good in an abridged version that reduces the nonsense and sticks to the story.

Back Story

In 1974, a revolutionary group calling itself the Dread Scott Brigade held up the old Shawmut Bank in Boston's Audubon Circle. Money was stolen. And a woman named Emily Gordon, a visitor in town cashing traveler's checks, was shot and killed. No one saw who shot her. Despite security camera photos and a letter from the group claiming responsibility, the perpetrators have remained at large for nearly three decades. Now it's up to Spenser to solve her murder.

...he's Baa-a-ack!

okay: I haven't enjoyed a Parker novel in awhile, but this one, although not the most innovative, is fun and witty. His last few books have felt forc..Show More »ed and written "just because..." Narrator is also excellent and gives each character a voice of his own.

Bad Business

When Marlene Cowley hires Spenser to see if her husband Trent is cheating on her, he encounters more than he bargained for: not only does he find a two-timing husband, but a second investigator as well, hired by the husband to look after his wife. As a result of their joint efforts, Spenser soon finds himself investigating both individual depravity and corporate corruption.

This is pure Parker

I have listened to part of this book and Parker's "Backstory"-- also read by Mantegna. For me, his reading captures the style and pace of Spenser. T..Show More »he "I said" "she said" is all Parker and is integral to the Spencer prose of factual, enlightened skepticism. You might not like Parker's style, but to say that he can't write dialogue is contrary to the opinions millions who have read him in print and enjoy the books on audio. Maybe Spenser isn't for you, but as a Spenser fan-- I think it's great.

Cold Service

When Spenser's closest ally, Hawk, is brutally injured and left for dead while protecting bookie Luther Gillespie, Spenser embarks on an epic journey to rehabilitate his friend in body and soul. Hawk, always proud, has never been dependent on anyone. Now he is forced to make connections: to the medical technology that will ensure his physical recovery, and to reinforce the tenuous emotional ties he has to those around him.

Parody of Parker--Pass it by!

Reads like a bad parody of Robert Parker--and this is coming from a Robert Parker fan. Instead try "All our Yesterdays" and "Early Autumn"--two of Par..Show More »ker's earlier (and much better) books.

School Days

Lily Ellsworth, erect, firm, white-haired, and stylish, is the grand dame of Dowling, Massachusetts, and possesses an iron will and a bottomless purse. When she hires Spenser to investigate her grandson Jared Clark's alleged involvement in a school shooting, Spenser is led into an inquiry that grows more harrowing at every turn. Though seven people were killed in cold blood, and despite Jared's being named as a co-conspirator by the other shooter, Mrs. Ellsworth is convinced of her grandson's innocence.

Spenser at his Best

I've read or listened to every Spenser novel since the beginning. You have to know a little about the history to appreciate the ongoing relationship ..Show More »between Spenser and the other characters. This one is no different.
I enjoyed the dialouge between characters and I thought the plot was inventive. The resolution of the plot was well done and believable. Along the way the notions of loyalty, love, and adolescent angst are nicely managed. A very good listen. Mantegna is at his best in these novels.

Hundred-Dollar Baby: A Spenser Novel

Once upon a time, though not so long ago, there was a girl named April Kyle, a beautiful teenage runaway who turned to prostitution to escape her terrible family life. Now, April Kyle's return in Hundred-Dollar Baby is nothing short of shocking.

Don't go the route of LeCarre and King

This is as an entertaining listen as the Parker/Mantegna pairings usually are and has quite a bit of the witty repartee that is Parker's style. I enj..Show More »oyed the story, the reading of the story, and Parker's writing.

Small "however", however...Parker has put in a little bit of proselytizing regarding the 'victimless' crime of prostitution (I think there would be a few wives who'd disagree). And there a few other slyly inserted bits of political opinion here and there. I've quit reading Stephen King and Le Carre because they seem to be more interested in presenting their political opinions rather than writing a good story. Drug companies/big government/abortion rants aren't fun to read when one is in the middle of a decent story. Parker is tip-toeing into that area in this book and I hope he realizes we read his books for a good time rather than indoctrination.

But except for that little failing, it's a good read for riding back and forth to work. I chuckled out loud more than a few times. I still see the fellow who played Spenser on TV as my version when I read the books...makes for a VERY pleasant few hours of listening.

Now & Then

Spenser knows something's amiss the moment Dennis Doherty walks into his office. The guy's aggressive yet wary, in the way men frightened for their marriages always are. So when Doherty asks Spenser to investigate his wife Jordan's abnormal behavior, Spenser agrees. A job's a job, after all.

a good one!

I enjoy almost all of Robert B Parker's books, I enjoy Joe Mantegna's narration and the 'saids' are just a part of Parker's writing style that I've gr..Show More »own to love. Thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters and the narration.

Rough Weather

Heidi Bradshaw is wealthy, beautiful, and well-connected - and she needs Spenser's help. In a most unlikely request, Heidi, a notorious golddigger recently separated from her latest husband, recruits the Boston P.I. to accompany her to her private island, Tashtego, for her daughter's wedding. Spenser is unsure of what his role as personal bodyguard will entail, but he consents when it's decided that he can bring his beloved Susan Silverman along.

He Said, She Said

I really like reading Parker, its kind of strange, you quickly forget you are reading. Have seen some of the made for TV Spenser movies with Joe Mante..Show More »gna, they are good (Mantegna's build doesn't necessarily say hard guy, but closer to the book than the old Urich series), so I have no problem hearing Mantegna narrating. The problem is all the "he said", and "she said" at the end of each sentence. It makes it harder than any other Audiobook I have heard to get immersed. My 2 cents.

The Professional: A Spenser Novel

A knock on Spenser's office door can only mean one thing: a new case. This time the visitor is a local lawyer with an interesting story. Elizabeth Shaw specializes in wills and trusts at the Boston law firm of Shaw & Cartwright, and over the years she's developed a friendship with wives of very wealthy men. However, these rich wives have a mutual secret: they've all had an affair with a man named Gary Eisenhower- and now he's blackmailing them for money.

Another wonderful Spencer book

As with an earlier reviewer I, too, have been reading the Spencer books for a very long time. I have either read or listened to them all from the firs..Show More »t book and have always enjoyed them for what they are - light reading with an interesting story to tell, but with no serious moral issues at stake.

I would not normally have reviewed this book since I have not reviewed any of the previous Audible Spencer books I have listened to, but was convinced to do so by some of the negative reviews I saw. Robert B Parker was a master of the short sentence and short chapter. His books are full of "He said" and "She said", but they are at the core of his writing style and, over time, I have become so wrapped up in the story and the characters that I no longer even notice. Rather it is the regular characters in the book, their relationships with each other and the underlying humor that have made these books so enjoyable, at least for me. Add to that an interesting story, the process of unraveling what actually happened and who did it and the masterful reading of Joe Mantegna and you have a pleasant couple of days of listening.

I enjoy these books so much that I often listen to them again when I want to spend a couple of days just relaxing. For me, the pleasure is in the listening and light humor more than in the "who-dun-it". If you are looking for the Maltese Falcon, you are not going to find it here. I, for one, am truly going to miss seeing more of these books since Mr. Parker recently died and I assume there is no one to continue the series.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who just wants a pleasant relaxed read, but I would also recommend that they start with some of the earlier books since much of the pleasure from the book involves the relations between the characters and that is something that you need some history to understand.

Painted Ladies: A Spenser Novel

Called upon by The Hammond Museum and renowned art scholar Dr. Ashton Prince, Spenser accepts his latest case: to provide protection during a ransom exchange-money for a stolen painting. The case becomes personal when Spenser fails to protect his client and the valuable painting remains stolen. Convinced that Ashton Prince played a bigger role than just ransom delivery boy, Spenser enters into a daring game of cat-and-mouse with the thieves....

Highly recommend

Classic Spenser. This one is all good...plot, characterizations, etc...and no one but Mantegna should ever narrate a Spenser novel. I like the Jesse S..Show More »tone novels better, but this is really an enjoyable listen. Highly recommend!

Sixkill

On location in Boston, bad-boy actor Jumbo Nelson is accused of the rape and murder of a young woman. From the start the case seems fishy, so the Boston PD calls on Spenser to investigate. Things don't look so good for Jumbo, whose appetites for food, booze, and sex are as outsized as his name. He was the studio's biggest star, but he's become its biggest liability...

Parker: a marvelous old friend who makes you happy

Robert B. Parker was one of this country's most prolific authors, in league with Elmore Leonard. Like Leonard, he simply wanted to entertain us, and h..Show More »e succeeded almost every time out. Likewise, Michael Prichard was an amazingly prolific performer (and may still be). And Joe Mantegna is also an incredibly prolific and likable actor and narrator. Choosing between these two narrators is like trying to choose between the best apple pie and the best peach pie: very hard to do. In Sixkill, Parker again puts Spenser in his usual slot: a very tough guy on the outside with a very tender inside. The dialogue is, as always, witty and brief. You start chuckling right out of the gate. Mantegna seems to have a little more trouble with the repetitive "he said, she said" stuff than Prichard. I seem to notice that less when hearing Prichard. Mantegna, OTOH, is a face many of us know from movies and TV, and his voice is that of a friendly guy who might live next door to you, who happens to be one of the best storytellers anywhere. The plot of Sixkill is really just an excuse for Spenser to act, to play the tough guy when he wants to and the tender lover of Susan Silverman when he needs to. Not that the plot is trifling: it is clever and tugs at your heartstrings, in some ways. Sixkill is a huge Indian who once played great football, but then fell down a terrible slide. Spenser takes him on as a project, and between Spenser and the talk-about-tough-but-silent Hawk, they reclaim Sixkill in a way that is very humane and caring. Parker was a genius. Both Prichard and Mantegna make him sound wonderful. I have only tried to listen to one book narrated by David Dukes, and I hated it. Sit down with Parker and have a great time.

Robert B. Parker's Lullaby: A Spenser Mystery

When 14-year-old Mattie Sullivan asks Spenser to look into her mother’s murder, he’s not completely convinced by her claim that the police investigation four years ago was botched. Mattie is gruff, street-smart, and wise beyond her years, left to care for her younger siblings and an alcoholic grandmother in a dilapidated apartment in South Boston. But her need for closure and her determination to make things right hit Spenser where he lives - they’re the very characteristics he abides by.

Ace aces Spenser!

Atkins has more than captured the essence of Spenser. I have been rereading all the old Spenser novels (via Audible) and thus the whole enivronment is..Show More » fresh in my mind. I honestly can not tell that this book was written by a different author. He has captured the universe entirely, including references to unseen characters from previous tomes that fit right into the flow. There is no sense that he used a "checklist" to ensure that he covered all the bases - something very common with follow-on works. Everything here felt right. He captures Susan and Hawk perfectly, and his references to inside-Boston stuff was spot on. Finally, the story was compelling and held my interest. The new characters were well-developed and felt as if they belonged in the Spenser universe.

Ace gets an A+ from this avid Parker reader. (Are you ready to do another Cole and Hitch?) I'm looking forward to the next Spenser - may he live forever!

Thank you to the Parker estate for letting this series continue.

Joe Mantegna is the perfect reader for this series. I've listened to several others, who range from OK down to horrible - but Joe captures the spirit and attitude of the stores perfectly. (I'm aware that he portrayed Spenser in some made-for-TV movies that were not well received by most Spenser fans, but reading is not the same as acting). Joe does the multiple roles well, and I think he does the best Hawk of any of the readers.

In short, I strongly recommend this novel to either long-time Parker fans, or new readers. You won't be disappointed!

Robert B. Parker's Wonderland

Henry Cimoli and Spenser have been friends for years, yet the old boxing trainer has never asked the private eye for a favor. Until now. A heavy-handed developer is trying to buy up Henry's condo on Revere Beach and sends thugs to move the process along. Soon Spenser and his apprentice, Zebulon Sixkill, find a trail leading to a mysterious and beautiful woman, a megalomaniacal Las Vegas kingpin, and plans to turn a chunk of land north of Boston into a sprawling casino. Bitter rivals emerge, alliances turn, and the uglier pieces of the Boston political machine look to put an end to Spenser's investigation.

In the Spirit of the Original

Ace Atkins does a good job of channeling Parker in his second Spenser novel. Atkins has a bit of a harder than most of Parker's works and his attempts..Show More » at humor come up a bit short of the master's. Evidently he has decided that Hawk, (the best character in the series) is no longer relevant, expendable, or is just too difficult to write well. Thankfully he has practically dropped the character of Susan Silverman. Atkins' Spenser runs a bit longer than most of the Spenser novels, mostly to no effect. There is a stretch of about 60-90 minutes where the narrative seems to wander aimlessly, and for no apparent reason; still, a slightly less authentic Spenser is still Spenser. Zebulon Sixkill is something of a Wooden Indian, and responds to most of Spenser's Hollywood Indian comments as if he were old enough to remember them, but he provides a further opportunity for Spenser to take on the role of father. Healy and Lundquist serve as decent replacements for Quirk and Belson; Atkins has allowed Spenser to continue on which is good enough for a recommendation.

Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot: A Spenser Novel

Kinjo Heywood is one of the New England Patriots’ marquee players - a hard-nosed linebacker who’s earned his reputation as one of the toughest guys in the league. When off-field violence repeatedly lands Heywood in the news, his slick agent hires Spenser to find the men who he says have been harassing his client.

Silent Night: A Spenser Holiday Novel

It’s December in Boston, and Spenser is busy planning the menu for Christmas dinner when he’s confronted in his office by a young boy named Slide. Homeless and alone, Slide has found refuge with an organization named Street Business, which gives shelter and seeks job opportunities for the homeless and lost. Slide’s mentor, Jackie Alvarez, is being threatened, and Street Business is in danger of losing its tenuous foothold in the community, turning Slide and many others like him back on the street. But it’s not a simple case of intimidation....

Great Spencer in the Parker style

I have always loved Robert Parkers Spencer detective series. I listen to many of these as audiobooks narrated by Joe Mantegna in the 90s. This book fo..Show More »llows in that wonderful tradition. It’s a good story, not too sentimental, and with all the hallmarks of a traditional Spencer story. Joe Mantegna is wonderful as narrator.

Robert B. Parker's Kickback

What started out as a joke landed 17-year-old Dillon Yates in a lockdown juvenile facility in Boston Harbor. When he set up a prank Twitter account for his vice principal, he never dreamed he could be brought up on criminal charges, but that's exactly what happened.

Thanks Ace.

Ace has the Spenser act down and only Joe's voice can be Spenser. This is one of my favorite Spenser stories.

Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn: Spenser, Book 44

The fire at a boarded-up Catholic church raged hot and fast, lighting up Boston's South End and killing three firefighters who were trapped in the inferno. A year later, as the city prepares to honor their sacrifice, there are still no answers about how the deadly fire started. Most at the department believe it was just a simple accident: faulty wiring in a century-old building. But Boston firefighter Jack McGee, who lost his best friend in the blaze, suspects arson.

Chasing the Bear: A Young Spenser Novel

For almost 40 years, Robert B. Parker's inimitable private investigator Spenser has been solving cases and selling millions of books worldwide. Now, for the first time, see how it all began as the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master sheds light on Spenser's formative years spent with is father and two uncles out West. This is an event book for every fan of Spenser, and a revelation for teens about to discover an American icon.

Almost great

Up to the usual Parker standards, if you, like I, enjoy his excellent writing. Only hitch is the reader, who is mediocre by my reckoning, though his a..Show More »dolescent-sounding voice is almost acceptable for most of the story. given that this is a telling by a young version of Spenser.

Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies

Connie Kelly thought she'd found her perfect man on an online dating site. He was silver-haired and handsome, with a mysterious background working for the CIA. She fell so hard for M. Brooks Welles that she wrote him a check for almost 300,000 dollars, hoping for a big return on her investment. But within weeks, both Welles and her money are gone. Her therapist, Dr. Susan Silverman, hands her Spenser's card.

Better and better

I've always loved Spenser. I'm loving him even more with Ace at the wheel.